Jumping the Broom

Directed By: Salim Akil   
Written By: Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs
Starring: Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: B +

Surprisingly good!

Jumping the Broom begins with Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) at the end of a relationship with a no-good man.  She vows not to give up her goodies again until she meets the man she's going to marry.  So she prays to God to send her a clear sign when she meets the next man who's "the one." Enter Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso), a handsome, successful, great guy who sweeps Sabrina off of her feet.  After six months of dating, Sabrina accepts a job offer that will relocate her to China.  Jason doesn't want to lose her so he proposes and she says yes.  Now it's time to prepare for their wedding and bring the Taylors and the Watsons together for the first time on Martha's Vineyard.  Sabrina's family comes from wealth and her mom, Mrs. Watson (Angela Bassett) is very pretentious and snooty and dead set on having their wedding go perfectly.  But she's up against Mrs. Taylor (Loretta Devine), the blue collar worker who's overprotective of her only son Jason (Alonso) and not happy about the rushed nuptials.  Bringing the two families together proves to be very interesting and even unlocks a family secret that could jeopardize the big day. 

Let me say I was pleasantly surprised by this one!  It got off to a little bit of a shaky start for me when we were introduced to Sabrina (Paula Patton) and Jason's (Laz Alonso) relationship.  We were just thrown into one of their date nights and the next thing you know he's proposing.  I would have liked a little more background on their relationship but once the wedding weekend begins all is forgiven.  Also Paula Patton's acting started off too fairy tale princess-y for me.  All she needed in the beginning was a ball gown and a wand.  But like the plot, she smoothed out once the initial setup was done.
Angela Bassett was great as the bougie mother, Mrs. Watson and just perfect for the part!  Of course Lorette Devine was not to be messed with either as Mrs. Taylor!  The best scene between the two of them occurred during the wedding rehearsal dinner.  Great dialogue and verbal sparring between the two of them!  But I will say I was surprised by how funny this movie was!  I was cracking up!  Of course Mike Epps who played Willie Earl, was responsible for the majority of my laugh out loud moments.  But I also thought he did a good job as the wise uncle who could put Mrs. Taylor (Devine) in her place. 
Overall this was a sweet story with morals and values.  I loved that Sabrina (Patton) and Jason (Alonso) were abstaining from sex until they were man and wife, a great example needed these days.  Also Jason was a true gentleman which we don't always see but I'd love to see more of ... especially sexy ones like Laz Alonso. 

I was very entertained by Jumping the Broom and would actually watch this one again!         
 
So I'd say see it!